Waiting for important news....

[mouse_chalk]

So, I've been off work for nearly a year now, with a long term illness, Labyrinthitis. They give me HELL about being off sick, basically don't believe me, threatening to sack me for MONTHS now, none of my colleagues will talk to me anymore, even going so far as to delete me from Facebook....

ANYWAY. I work for a large mobile phone network in the UK, it's named after a fruit that begins with the letter 'O', to give you a clue! We've just got a new director person, and he wants to make big changes. They've announced that 450ish jobs will be going in the UK, but not where from exactly. My manager called me last night to say that there was a big meeting, via voice conference today, about the changes, and how they will 'directly affect the team' She invited me in, but I couldn't get there, and I couldn't dial in to the conference as I don't have a phone on the same network anymore. Anyway, rambling again... So she said she'd call me with news after the meeting.

I hadn't heard a peep until an hour ago, so I called her, and all she would say was that her manager wanted to update people personally. And that she had my number and would hopefully call me today, if not in the morning (??!!) I said 'that sounds very ominous' and all she said was 'yeah...' AARRGGH!

It's 17.45pm here now, and I'm clinging onto hope that I'll hear something this evening... :?

Thing is, I want to be made redundant! I know it sounds terrible to say, given that lots of people have had that recently, and struggle to find work, and it must be a terrible situation for them, but my job hasn't been safe for a year now. I've had the threat of being sacked hanging over me for SO long, with the uncertainty of what I'll do earning no money, unable to pay any of my rent/bills, with a long-term illness and no prospect of recovering any time soon to get back into the working world.

I want this to be over, and I want to not have to have anything to do with this company ever again. Not even as a customer! I've been there nearly 4 years, so might get a decent enough pay out to pay my bills for a few months and lost the stress, which might help me recover, so I can get back out there and get another job...

I've seen a member of my team, who does the exact same job as me, update his status on Facebook to 'Jon is a bit numb' earlier and have been wondering ever since. Someone else who does a completely different job, in a different team has updated their status to 'Charlotte is ok ' and that's made me even worse!!

I just want to know already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ullhair:ullhair:ullhair:ullhair:ullhair:ullhair:ullhair:ullhair:ullhair:

PS: Sorry that was long!!

 

[juliew19673]

That is rough sitting around on pins and needles!! I'm sure your manager is having a late night and will hopefully call you with good news! Do they have Disability coveragein the UK? Would hope they will give you severance if they "lay you off"..

Good luck and please post when you get the call!

 

[mouse_chalk]

Thanks Julie! I've still not heard anything!!

But, I just spoke to one of my best mates, who works at Orange (oops lol! ) but I knew him before that, and he said that at work today, one of the other coaches (I'm a coach) came up to him and said 'guess what? I've been made redundant' and stormed off!!!! He was on a call though so couldn't talk to her.... Also, he said that the guy who's been changing his Facebook status (also a coach, works on my team) was looking VERY morose all day....

I SO hope it's true!! I'd get some sort of payout, but the UK minimum is one month I think... Steve used to work there too and we're trying to remember what their policy is. He says that it used to be a month's salary for every year you've been there, rounded up to the nearest year. I've been there for nearly 4 years now, so that would be kinda good!

SOOOO.... looks like I have been made redundant. Just not officially! Tell you what, wouldn't like to be my bosses' boss when/if she FINALLY does call me tomorrow, for letting me hear about it through other people first!! :grumpy:

Oh, and I've just heard that another WHOLE team of about 20 people who do a very similar thing to me, including one guy who's been there since Orange started have been made redundant too.... Feel sad for them

 

[pinksalamander]

Oh god, that is bad/good news! I remember the day my Mum got made redundant. She was so upset. At least you will get 4 months pay though (hopefully), that should be enough to last you until you can get a new job? What sort of work are you looking to go into? I can't imagine working in a company like that. I hope to stay at Clarks until i want to go into a proper career. Lots of the people i work with are leaving now to get into a 'real' career from being there since they were 16. They let you stay on throughout university and come back in the holidays which is really good.

Are you thinking of going into a job you are passionate about or are you just trying to find something to do?

Good luck!

Fran :hearts :brownbunny

 

[Alexah]

I'm assuming that being "redundant" is similar to being laid off in the US? I'm not sure, but it's what it sounds like.

I can understand the hell of being on sick leave and having it thrown in your face at every turn. It was really hard and I was actually quite relieved when I was laid off from my position a couple of years ago.

I guess I'm happy for you (since it's what you wanted - he he )! Please let us know when you know for sure .

 

[pinksalamander]

Redundant means you are no longer needed. You aren't fired because of bad behaviour or gross misconduct etc, you are made redundant because the company no longer needs/can afford to keep you on. Its like the 'nice' way of being sacked.

Fran :hearts :brownbunny

 

[mouse_chalk]

Yes, sorry! I hadn't realised it was different lol.. So many language differences when we all speak English!

Redundant= laid off, due to cost cuts. Orange has been doing pretty badly as of late, and there's a new Chief Exec who's keen to improve things and get rid of the 'unnecessary' jobs that just hold things up and prevent the organisation running as smoothly as it could. I have to agree, that his ideas sound pretty good, and I'm the first to admit that my role (there's about 50 of us throughout the country) is pretty rubbish. We're there to 'coach' people who talk to customers over the phone when they aren't doing a good job. I.e they are rude to customers? We try and teach them not to be. Can't use the systems? We teach them how to. It stands to very good reason that if Orange employ the right kinds of people, and train them properly, none of my job is needed at all! I only got it because my previous role was scrapped and I didn't want to go back to the phones...

But anyway, it will be great news for me if it's true, and I will be celebrating! I wont have to deal with the stress and any of their *rubbish* any more. I wont be scared to leave my house in case I bump into anyone, and they start more rumours that if I'm able to go out to the supermarket or DIY store, then why can't I work? I've been wanting to quit for a while now but scared to because of the financial consequences, so this will do it for me!

But, with regards what I will do next, not sure! Firstly, I need to get better. I need to get rid of the Labyrinthitis, which gives me such symptoms like the room spinning (like when you're really drunk?), constant headaches, nausea, dizziness, falling over etc, not to mention waking up every morning feeling like I have the worst hangover ever (without drinking lol)... When I'm better from that, then I'll be getting a job. Until then, sadly, I'm going to have to claim benefits. Which really depresses me, because I guess it's quite uncertain, but it's something I'll need to do to be able to pay my bills. Steve earns enough for him and the bunnies, but he'd find it a struggle to pay for me as well, plus he'd really resent me for it in the end I think...

Following that, I know I want to work with animals. I was considering a veterinary nurse college course, but it's low paid whilst you're in training, so not sure... Anything with animals really!

Gosh, I've written another essay, sorry!!

 

[pinksalamander]

Exciting! Yeah, once you are better can you not do a veterinary course part-time? I know they do sometimes do things like that, part-time college. It might take twice as long but it means you can still hold a part-time job. Come work at Clarks!

Fran :hearts :brownbunny

 

[Bo B Bunny]

What of your being off with your illness? do they still have to pay you out as if you work regularly?

 

[mouse_chalk]

Bo B Bunny wrote:

What of your being off with your illness? do they still have to pay you out as if you work regularly?

That's a good question! We think that yes, they do.. but Steve made the very good point, that they could still sack me cos of my illness between now and the date of my redundancy (if it's true...), and therefore avoid themselves having to pay me off! :? I'm kinda of the mind that getting away from them is the main goal, and any financial pay off will just be the icing on the cake, although that icing will be very helpful in letting me live for a while!

Steve spoke to a friend of his who still works there, and she says that she knows who's going, but she's been told that it's instant dismissal if she or anyone was to tell anyone else... So I'm none the wiser until I call my manager and demand to know what's going on in the morning.... Great! :?

 

[Bo B Bunny]

Be very "cool" dealing with them. They could try to start a fight to fire you.